It was time to swallow his pride and face the obvious. It would take a fortune to replenish his estate. He could neither borrow it nor earn it. Very well, he must marry it.

Desperate and destitute, the devilish Lord Rival has drawn up a list of wealthy women who might be willing to wed—and Lady Olivia Fairfax is one of them. But when he finally meets the mysterious spinster, she is hardly the lonely naif he expected. Her quick wit, sweet temper, and passionate predilection for charity work completely entrance him—and make it most difficult to bring his heartless seduction to its conclusion....